PASO Orchestra Player Expectations
Rehearsals and Call Times
Rehearsals are Monday evenings from early September through May at the Port Angeles High School Auditorium (or other venues in Port Angeles, as announced). Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 PM and end at 9:30 PM with a 10 to 15 minute break. Please be at the auditorium, seated and warmed up prior to 7:00 PM.
CONCERT WEEK rehearsals are Monday and Thursday at 7 PM, with a Saturday morning dress rehearsal, with audience, beginning at 10 AM and ending at approximately 12:30.
SYMPHONY CONCERTS begin at 7:30 PM; the call time is 7 PM. There is a 6:30 PM public pre-concert chat on stage with the Artistic Director and guests.
CHAMBER CONCERTS begin at 7:00 PM; the call time is 6:30 PM.
Concert dress
Men: tux or black suits with white or black shirts and bow ties.
Women: long black dresses or dressy slacks and black tops with longer length sleeves.
Please avoid short skirts, flashy jewelry or bare arms that may distract audience attention from the music.
Touches of red or green may be added for the December concert and dress rehearsal when permitted by the conductor.
Saturday dress rehearsal: neat casual, no torn jeans and sweatshirt, shorts or bare midriffs.
Chamber Concert participation is by invitation from the Artistic Director.
Attendance
PASO players are expected to perform all concerts and attend all rehearsals for that concert. If you are unable to attend a rehearsal, or participate in a concert, please contact, in writing or email, Music Director, Jonathan Pasternack at pasymphony@olypen.com or 360-457-5579, as soon as you know. Please also inform your section leader.
Music
You are responsible for the safe-keeping of all the music in the folder given you. After the Saturday concert, please return the folder with all parts to the box backstage. When marking music, please use a soft touch and soft pencil. When possible, use Sticky notes or short arrows to indicate cuts.
Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra Protocol
• At the start of rehearsal, the concertmaster will tune each section (winds, brass, strings) separately. Please, when you see the concertmaster standing, cease talking, and stop playing until it is your section’s time to tune. Tune softly, as practicable.
• There should be no talking, even about musical matters, when the conductor is discussing or rehearsing with another section.
• String section players should copy and follow bowings from the first stand. Please try to play in the same part of the bow as the section leader. The first chair players may send out files, but it is the section player’s responsibility to copy all markings into her/his part.
• Standing: Please watch the concertmaster to know when the orchestra as a group should stand and sit for the conductor or to acknowledge applause. Face out to the audience, when receiving applause.
Recruitment
We appreciate your recruiting musicians for PASO! Please direct prospective new members to the Artistic Director who has the final decision about all personnel matters.